This book is about a 12-year-old boy called Frankie Parsons. Frankie worries. He worries a lot, about everything. Along with an enormous list of bird names, Chillun vocabulary (the exclusive language of Frankie and his best friend Gigs) and cricket batting shots, there is a never ending list of terrifyingly possible diseases he could catch swirling in his brain and a high-pitched malevolent rodent voice which constantly whispers Frankie's worst fears into his brain, especially at night. Punctually at 10pm every night Frankie pads across the landing to Ma's room to look for comfort and Ma always assures him that everything will be fine. But Frankie's Ma is not like other people's Ma's. If Frankie goes away to camp, who will look after Ma and keep her company and help her with her baking? His big brother Louie has moved out and comes home for laundry, occasional meals and to raid piggy banks, his sister Gordana is always out or on the phone to one of her 47 friends, Uncle George, Frankie's father, has to go to work, and apart from their fortnightly visits, The Aunties are usually busy going to the movies or attending lectures or doing aerobics. And if Frankie goes away to camp, who will answer his punctual, worried, 10pm questions?

Then suddenly Frankie's consistently unchanging world is turned around by the arrival of new girl, Sydney. Sydney is not like any other girl Frankie has met. She has dreads for a start; she makes her own clothes and she never stays in one place long – she has lived just about everywhere. Sydney's bright, realistic and quirky take on life makes Frankie realise how static his own world is and he wonders how it came to be this way. Sydney is amazed and fascinated by Frankie's world and when it seems to Frankie as if his family's abnormality is plainly accepted and secrets are covered up, Sydney is the only one who cannot stop asking questions. She is burning with a million of them and she has an opinion on everything. Frankie knows it is only a matter of time before she asks the question that has festered inside him all this time but he cannot bear to upset Ma with - the ultimate 10pm question.

This book is truly amazing and Frankie's slightly wacky world is made completely real. The relationships come across really strongly. Kate De Goldi has made the plot gripping and exciting without much action which I think signifies a very cleverly written book and a twist near the end creates a very moving story and a touching situation between characters which throughout the course of the book we grow to love. The book takes place over the course of no more than six months yet we see Frankie grow up in this time. It also explores the theme of fear, both irrational and that founded on experience, and the delicacy of the human mind. The 10pm Question is a highly original, moving and entrancing book with an entertaining surface and a deep consideration of serious themes from the point of view of a 12-year-old. I don't know if you are really allowed, or able, to say this about many books, but I think this one is perfect.

Want to tell the world about a book you've read? Join the site and send us your review!